Martin Skrtel: Liverpool's best defender in the league this season

Much has been made of Liverpool’s change in formartion in recent months, with the Reds benefitting from playing three at the back – usually Martin Skrtel, Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho.

So how do the three players fare? In fact, who comes out on top when you consider the performances of all Liverpool’s defenders in the league this season?

Using HITC’s formula to calculate a defender’s importance by adding up key attributes, there is a clear winner – Skrtel.

The 30-year-old comes out on top in six of the seven areas below, and his total of 28.41 is streets ahead of everyone except – somewhat surprisingly – Dejan Lovren, who has a score of 26.2.

Skrtel is a vital part of this Liverpool side and he has formed a wonderful trio with Sakho and Can, and it will be interesting to see if manager Brendan Rodgers splits them up next season, switching the former Bayer Leverkusen player into the middle and giving Lovren more chances.

Outfield blocks per game

Tackles won per game

Effective clearances per game

Effective headed clearances per game

Duels won per game

Aerials won per game

Interceptions won per game

Total

Mins Played

Martin Skrtel

1.26

1.04

10.04

5.56

5.11

3.59

1.81

28.41

2,430

Kolo Touré

0.6

1

4.7

2.5

3.2

1.6

0.6

14.2

575

Javier Manquillo

0.3

2.1

2.4

1.1

5.6

1.2

2.2

14.9

761

Glen Johnson

0.29

1.14

2

1.07

4.29

1.21

1.21

11.21

882

Mamadou Sakho

0.29

1.36

5.86

3.64

5.43

2.43

1.57

20.58

1,238

Dejan Lovren

0.2

1.35

8.25

5.5

5.9

3.3

1.7

26.2

1,510

Emre Can

0.16

1.74

3.11

1.68

5.95

1.79

1.74

16.17

1,396

Alberto Moreno

0.04

1.5

1.67

0.63

4.21

0.5

1.13

9.68

1,950

José Enrique

0

0.75

2.75

1.5

3

1.25

0.5

9.75

203

Despite the recent disappointment of losing 2-1 to Manchester United, Liverpool’s players can hold their heads high after a brilliant start to 2015; and while a top-four finish will now be a tough ask, things could change once again if they defeat Arsenal directly after the international break.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. He has worked for HITC for four years and is now Head of Editorial and Journalist Standards.